Peak Forest Canal Boat Holiday Hire

1 Week Canal Boat Holiday from our Festival Park Marina base in Etruria, Staffordshire

Those wishing to venture a bit further on narrow boat holiday before returning down The Macclesfield Canal may wish to cruise the short but fascinating upper Peak Forest Canal. It passes through a landscape of sweeping fells, small woods, stone cottages and mills as it clings to the hillside, like a child clutching its mother’s skirts, on the way to its terminus at Whaley Bridge. The main reason for the canal’s existence can be seen at the beautifully restored Bugsworth Basin where limestone was once brought down from the quarries on a 6 mile tramway to be loaded onto the waiting narrowboats. Canal boat moorings here are plentiful and older fans of “Coronation Street” will be interested to know that Pat Phoenix who, for many years, portrayed Elsie Tanner was once the Landlady of the adjacent Navigation Inn where good food, good ales and a warm welcome are still the order of the day for any narrow boat hirers on holiday on The Peak Forest Canal.

The Upper Peak Forest Canal packs a big punch in its short length with plenty for the narrow boat crew including several swing bridges to exercise their muscles and the tantalising smell  as you pass Matlows Confectionary works at New Mills, source of a certain sticky sweet from childhood days – see if you can guess what it is. It would be a shame to miss out on this little gem of a canal so, if you do have a day in hand on your canal boat holiday, turn right at Marple Junction, explore and enjoy the Peak Forest Canal.

More Informative Canal Guides, Route Maps and DVD's can be purchased from the Waterway Routes website.